<p>Should I say anything to anyone in my company about my boss? Here is some background.</p>
<p>He is mid-30s and was blessed with the gift of gab. He spends a LOT of socializing around the office instead of working. He is also easily distracted by things going on in his life and will spend a great deal of work time researching these on the internet, making phone calls, etc. Examples would be refinancing his mortgage or buying a new car. </p>
<p>Our departments workload has increased greatly over the last two years, and in my opinion, he could be accomplishing tasks that would improve our productivity. And I wonder if his apparent work ethic (or lack of) reflects badly on our department as a whole. In the recent past, a couple of things have slipped through the cracks due to his lack of focus. Although he took the blame, I think they were preventable and made our department/company look bad. </p>
<p>Just a couple of specific examples–he recently joined Facebook and spent an entire work morning on Facebook. I know, because his monitor reflects in a window in his office, which I can see from my desk. One day last week, he went out to lunch and was gone about 1 1/4 1 ½ hours. Upon his return, a couple of his buddies were sitting down to eat lunch at a nearby conference table, and he then proceeded to sit and talk with them for their entire lunch hour. This last one was even commented on to me by someone outside my department. And my immediate co-workers make regular comments about his work ethic. </p>
<p>Why would I not say anything? Im one of the few part-time employees in the company, and my boss really likes my work and gives me great schedule flexibility. Do I want to jeopardize this?</p>
<p>If you think I should say something to someone, who should that person bemy boss directly, his boss, Human Resources, ?</p>
<p>Thats a tough call I think. I say that because you are a part-time employee, in a position that gives you flexibility that you enjoy. This job market is tough, for alot of people. I would guess there are other employees who feel the same way, and management is probably aware that your boss is a slacker. I would make sure I give my own work 100%. Like I said though, it is a difficult choice to make. I would make sure I could afford to not work there, if things didn’t go quite right.</p>
<p>If your company has a confidential hotline for compliance issues, you could use that if you are really inclined to report this. It is not a compliance issue, but would be referred to human resources for handling. That said, if this boss treats you well and you have a job that is working well for you, I would keep my mouth shut in this economy!</p>
<p>I don’t see how officially criticizing your boss’ work could do anything but harm your own career, even if your criticism is valid. How your boss does his job is really not your business unless you are asked by his boss or his peers in the course of an official performance review, and even then only your observations should be shared, not your judgments (unless those are specifically asked for). If there’s some possibility that he uses social networking to enhance his job performance in some way, for instance, who are you to say he shouldn’t do that? If his behavior is as inappropriate and flagrant as you seem to think, give his boss credit for recognizing it too; he/she may be building a case to legally terminate him.</p>
<p>Obviously, other people are aware of what’s going on. There is nothing to be gained by your saying or doing anything. In my nearly 40 years of working, there’s one thing I’ve learned: You have to assume that the people whom you work with will always be there. Some of them were there before you got there (like your boss) and many of them will be there long after you’re gone. Unless someone is doing something illegal or dangerous, there is no advantage to you for speaking up.</p>
<p>No. Do not criticize your boss, not to your coworkers or to his supervisors, or to anyone except your spouse, confidentially. You say he likes your work and gives you flexible hours. You’re getting a regular paycheck. You have nothing to complain about.</p>
<p>Lots of jobs involve massive amounts of schmoozing. This guy sounds like a first-class schmoozer. You don’t want him badmouthing you to those people he schmoozes with.</p>
<p>No, I really don’t think there’s anything for you to gain in pointing out your boss’ deficiencies. I would feel the same if it was a co-worker. Do the best job YOU can. If his supervisor has a problem with him, then that’s how it needs to be handled. If his supervisor doesn’t have a problem with him, then you shouldn’t. We’re dealing with something similar in my work environment, and the best way for you to handle it is to let it roll off your back and not even pay attention to it.</p>
<p>Forget about it. I’m sure you’re not the only one that notices his lack of worth ethic. Concentrate on your own job and stay out of the office gossip.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your sage advice. The consensus is to let it roll off my back, and that was my gut feeling. So that is what I will do. However, you may see a vent from me in the “if you can’t say it directly …” thread!</p>
<p>momtutu, I had two bosses that were both just like this. I guess their boss did not care, but strange isn’t it? </p>
<p>One of my bosses liked to gamble. He fought with his boss to leave early every Friday so that he had maximum time to gamble in Atlantic City! He slept very little over the week-end and would drive straight from AC to his job on Monday mornings. He wore a baseball cap in his office on Mondays and he would sleep most of the day on Mondays. He thought he was hiding the fact that he was asleep by pulling down his cap a bit. He often took work time to decide which horses he was betting on, etc., during the work week.</p>
<p>My other boss was social, spent a lot of time on the internet, deciding upon which stocks to buy, and thinking up various get rich quick schemes (too bad that none of them worked out).</p>
<p>I’d find a subject I had in common with OP’s boss. Spend 10 minutes talking with him about it and then say ‘Oops, this is fun but I gotta get back to work now.’ Maybe he’ll take the hint.</p>
<p>I would mind my own business. I had a boss similar to the one you describe, taking an hour or two for lunch and then leave an hour later but she also logged in at home and worked very late hours. I know it can be frustrating when you are working and others aren’t but I’m sure if you see it, other do too.</p>
<p>I agree with the majority of posters. Supervising your boss is not in your job description - that’s up to his supervisors. Imagine how you would feel if someone who worked for you went to HR if they didn’t like how you performed your job (other than criminal or ethical violations, of course).</p>
<p>I know your concern is only for the company and the ultimate benefit of your colleagues. Just count your blessings for having a job with flexible time and continue doing your job to the best of your ability. And stop watching his computer in the reflection on the window - it will only give you agita !</p>
<p>I would not tell on the boss because for all you know, he may have his position due to connections. Telling on him may cause your job to be at risk.</p>
<p>However, I would suggest that you do everything possible to make sure that the higher ups know that you are doing your job responsibly. That way, if heads eventually roll, yours may be safer than your boss’s.</p>
<p>I find these responses very sad. While I agree that OP should not endanger her job, there are bound to be ways to report this anonymously. Momtutu actually cares about the quality of work coming out of her department and if more workers had her attitude, this country would be a better, more productive place. It is a major peeve of mine that incompetence gets promoted and everyone looks the other way.</p>
<p>mkm, I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. But the problem with incompetence is how to define it. Most companies don’t normally nurture a culture where employees manage their supervisors. If it were up to your direct reports to decide whether you were competent or not, the company would turn topsy turvey. We’re not talking ethics or illegalities here - we’re talking about a boss who goofs off. This is the job of management to notice and deal with. </p>
<p>Corporate America by and large amazes me with our cronyism and favoritism. As I said in another thread, the terms “VP of good hair” and “empty suit” didn’t originate in government. But what can the OP say? - " I was watching his monitor’s reflection in teh window" ? Most employers wouldn’t react well to that, no matter how well-intentioned the person reporting the goofing off.</p>
<p>Do not report your boss for what you have described. Even if you were to be totally right and vindicated, others will note that they must watch their back if you work under them.</p>
<p>Do your best to make your boss and department look good and be good. That is your job. His supervisor is responsible for him.</p>
<p>“I’m one of the few part-time employees in the company, and my boss really likes my work and gives me great schedule flexibility. Do I want to jeopardize this?”</p>
<p>It’s great that you want to improve the department and company, but they might replace your boss - with someone who brings in his buddy to replace you. Then what?</p>
<p>I am just wondering what kind of work is this ? You can’t be subjective w/o more information. All this fraternizing might be tolerable if it’s a sales organization or PR /advertizing firms. It might even be good that your boss is building up good comaraderie. Who’s to say. Although I would say he be more discreet about his personal biz.</p>